How do you know if white sugar has been MADE white with animal bones?

I was told a while back that sugar was bleached white with animal bones. Being vegetarian, I stopped using it. I told other people but I was not believed so I thought I’d write to the Vegetarian Society. The email conversation is shown below: –

Hi ya.

I’ve tried to research whether white sugar is veggie or not. This is what I’ve found. Can you help?

Heena

Conventional sugar is typically bleached with bone char (a charcoal filter made from burned animal bones) or with chemicals. The organic process instead uses slaked lime, an organic agent made from limestone, and the harsh chemicals typically used in the refining process of conventional table sugar are not allowed.

http://www.culinate.com/articles/features/sugar_types?page=1&pageSize=1

Is animal bone char used in the production of sugar from sugar cane or beets?

Bone char is not used in the production of sugar from sugar beets. However, bone char is used for decolorizing cane sugar syrups.

http://www.rogerssugar.com/faq/index.html

Refined Sugar
Refined sugar is avoided by some vegetarians because its processing may involve a bone char filter. An activated carbon filter, sometimes made of bone char, decolorises sugar to make it white through an absorption process. While the bone char filter is used by some major sugar companies, it is not used to produce all refined sugar.

http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj97mar/973sugar.htm

What many people, especially vegetarians, don’t realize is that the filtering process that removes a lot of the color is through charcoal made from animal bones. (Therefore, vegetarians and vegans may decide to refrain from eating it.)

http://askville.amazon.com/refined-sugar-made-white-added-make/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=8464011

Chris from the the Vegetarian Society wrote back saying: –

Basically some cane produced sugar is treated with charcoal made from animal bones, and some isn’t. Sugar produced from beats does not go through this process at all.

Chris Olivant
Information and Customer Services Manager
The Vegetarian Society
Direct line: 0161 925 2022
Web site: www.vegsoc.org
Registered Charity: 259358

I then replied asking: –

Yeah I wonder how we’re supposed to know whether it’s vegetarian or not as they don’t have the ‘V’ sign on it

Chris from the the Vegetarian Society wrote back saying: –

I’m afraid the only way to find out if you identify an ingredient which can come form multiple sources is to contact the manufacturer.

Chris Olivant
Information and Customer Services Manager
The Vegetarian Society
Direct line: 0161 925 2022
Web site: www.vegsoc.org
Registered Charity: 259358
Promoting understanding and respect for vegetarian lifestyles

Today 18th June, Chris writes: –

No. Though most manufacturers in the UK use sugar from the big free UK sugar companies, none of whom use activated bone charcoal.

Chris Olivant
Information and Customer Services Manager
The Vegetarian Society
Direct line: 0161 925 2022
Web site: www.vegsoc.org

So do any of you know how to find out which sugars are made white with animal bone? Most of them do not have a green V on the packaging.